Glossary
Applied Research
Research designed to solve specific, practical problems and directly address real-world issues.
Example:
Developing a new therapeutic technique to reduce symptoms of PTSD in veterans is an example of applied research.
Basic Research
Research conducted to expand the fundamental knowledge base of a subject, driven by curiosity without an immediate practical goal.
Example:
A psychologist studying how different types of memory are formed in the brain is conducting basic research.
Confounding Variable
An extraneous factor that is not the independent variable but could influence the dependent variable, potentially leading to a spurious relationship.
Example:
If a study on exercise and mood doesn't account for participants' diet, diet could be a confounding variable affecting their mood.
Control Variable
A factor that is kept constant or consistent across all conditions in an experiment to ensure that only the independent variable is affecting the dependent variable.
Example:
In an experiment testing the effectiveness of a new fertilizer, the amount of sunlight and water given to all plants would be control variables.
Dependent Variable (DV)
The variable that is measured in an experiment and is expected to change in response to the manipulation of the independent variable.
Example:
If a study investigates how different teaching methods affect test scores, the test scores would be the dependent variable.
Double-blind Procedure
An experimental procedure in which neither the participants nor the researchers interacting with them know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group.
Example:
In a drug trial, using a double-blind procedure prevents both patients and doctors from knowing who receives the actual medication versus a placebo, minimizing bias.
Experimenter Bias
A phenomenon where a researcher's expectations or beliefs about the outcome of a study unintentionally influence the results.
Example:
If a researcher subtly smiles more at participants in the 'treatment' group, potentially influencing their responses, this is an example of experimenter bias.
Hawthorne Effect
A phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed.
Example:
Employees in a factory might temporarily increase their productivity simply because they know a researcher is watching them, illustrating the Hawthorne Effect.
Hindsight Bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it, often referred to as the 'I knew it all along' phenomenon.
Example:
After a sports team wins a championship, fans might claim they 'knew all along' the team would win, demonstrating hindsight bias.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often derived from a theory, that states a relationship between two or more variables.
Example:
A researcher might form the hypothesis that 'students who get more sleep will perform better on their exams.'
Independent Variable (IV)
The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher in an experiment to observe its effect on another variable.
Example:
In a study examining the effect of caffeine on alertness, the amount of caffeine consumed would be the independent variable.
Operational Definition
A precise and measurable description of how a variable will be observed and measured in a study, ensuring replicability.
Example:
To study 'aggression,' an operational definition might be 'the number of times a child hits a doll within a 10-minute play session.'
Overconfidence
The tendency to be more confident in one's judgments or abilities than is objectively warranted, often leading to errors.
Example:
A student who barely studies but is convinced they will ace the exam is exhibiting overconfidence.
Perceiving Order in Random Events
The human tendency to find patterns or connections in sequences of random data, even when no such patterns exist.
Example:
After flipping a coin five times and getting tails each time, someone might believe heads is 'due' next, illustrating perceiving order in random events.
Random Assignment
A procedure in experiments where participants are assigned to experimental or control groups purely by chance, ensuring groups are equivalent at the start.
Example:
To study the effects of a new drug, researchers use random assignment to ensure each participant has an equal chance of receiving the drug or a placebo.
Sampling Bias
A flaw in the research design where the sample selected for a study does not accurately represent the larger population, leading to skewed results.
Example:
Surveying only college students about national political opinions would likely result in sampling bias because their views may not reflect the entire population.
Theory
A well-substantiated explanation for a set of observed behaviors or phenomena, providing a framework for understanding.
Example:
Freud's theory of psychosexual development attempts to explain personality formation through childhood stages.